Sex-specific Trends in Incidence and Mortality of Pedestrian Road Injuries in Azerbaijan, 1990–2021: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-1-2025

Publication Title

J Orthop Traumatol Rehabil

Keywords

Azerbaijan; Global Burden of Disease; incidence and mortality; pedestrian road injuries; sex differences; temporal trends

Abstract

Introduction: Pedestrian road injuries (PRIs) are a public health concern, with over 270,000 fatalities annually. PRIs disproportionately affect developing regions like Azerbaijan, where cultural and behavioral factors contribute to higher rates among males. This study examines the sex-specific trends in PRI incidence and mortality in Azerbaijan from 1990 to 2021 using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using GBD 2021 data to evaluate age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of PRIs in Azerbaijan. These data were stratified by sex, with independent t-tests and effect size calculations used to assess statistically significant sex differences. Linear regression models analyzed temporal trends, and statistical significance was P < 0.05. Results: Males consistently demonstrated higher PRI incidence (mean: 149.17 vs. 57.52 per 100,000) as well as mortality (mean: 4.95 vs. 1.62 per 100,000) compared to females (P < 0.001). Temporal trends showed significant declines in both metrics for both sexes from 1990 to 2021, with incidence declining by 48.7% for males and 44.1% for females and mortality by 59.3% for males and 58.5% for females. Despite these improvements, sex disparities persisted across the 31-year period, with males consistently exhibiting higher rates. Discussion: Cultural and behavioral factors likely drive the higher burden of PRIs among males in Azerbaijan. Targeted interventions, including educational campaigns and infrastructural improvements, are needed to address these disparities. Future research must focus on individual-level factors and cultural contexts to develop effective, location-specific strategies for reducing PRIs and improving road safety in Azerbaijan.

Conclusion: Despite overall progress, persistent sex disparities in PRI incidence and mortality highlight the urgent need for gender-sensitive, culturally tailored road safety interventions in Azerbaijan.

PubMed ID

Not assigned.

Volume

17

Issue

2

First Page

70

Last Page

75

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